Welcome to the Piano World Piano ForumsOver 2.7 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Samson François. My piano teacher at uni was particularly fond of his Ravel, and certainly there is a lot to savor in his recording of the complete works. IMHO I haven't heard a better Ravel D major concerto.

He could be a bit unkempt at times (his Liszt A major is nowhere near as tidy as Richter), but he brings such a 'bon vivant' approach that one can't help getting swept up in the spontaneity of it all. He made his debut -do not recall where- with Prokofiev 5 (an interesting choice), and if it was anything like his recording, that must have been quite a concert. Alas, he had demons to deal with, and we lost him too soon.

Perlemuter is admired by many -and I wish I could play that well at his age- but I don't find much of interest. My local classical station occasionally plays recordings of Perlemuter.

I prefer the set by Alexandre Tharaud. It is very fluid and expressive. But at the end choosing a version is quite personal so difficult to advise when one knows nothing of the person. There are a couple of other recordings besides the excellent ones already mentionned: JP Collard (poor recording quality) and Bertrand Chamoyou. Also an old set by Walter Gieseking but I prefer the newer versions.

What I think is so amazing about Ravel is that, except for a handful of short and rarely played pieces, he wrote only eight works for solo piano (Pavane for a Dead Princess. Jeux d'eau, Miroirs, Sonatine, Le Tombeau de Couperin, Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, Gaspard de la Nuit, La Valse) but they are each so masterful that his reputation as a composer of piano music is very high.

What I think is so amazing about Ravel is that, except for a handful of short and rarely played pieces, he wrote only eight works for solo piano (Pavane for a Dead Princess. Jeux d'eau, Miroirs, Sonatine, Le Tombeau de Couperin, Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, Gaspard de la Nuit, La Valse) but they are each so masterful that his reputation as a composer of piano music is very high.

I think the Minuet Antique is played often enough to be included in that list, as well. Most of his piano works exist in orchestral versions as well, and it is not always certain which came first.

He was a great pianist. Wonderful Beethoven violin/piano sonatas full set with Zino Francescatti. His interpretation is typical french classic old school. Clear, well articulated. The recording is old though so sound quality is average but very well done. Modern versions emphasize better the harmonic complexity of these pieces but I think everyone should listen at least once for the architectural consistency and the classic style.

In the late 70s, I was lucky enough to hear Arturo Benedetti Michalangeli playing Gaspard de la Nuit live. It was so incredibly perfect and refined - I don't think I have experienced anything like this ever since.